Bali

There are three well-known monkey forests in Bali: Ubud in Gianyar Regency, Sangeh in Badung Regency, and Alas Kedaton in Tabanan Regency. You can also find monkeys at many other temples in Bali, since Hindus consider the monkey a holy animal, and they seek to maintain good relations with nature. Whenever a temple got established within a forest where monkeys live, it has been necessary to preserve the surrounding natural habitat. Communities living near forests have always shown respect and protected the forests.

Above Lake Bratan extends the Kebun Raya Botanic Gardens covering an area of around 130 hectares (325 acres). They are beautifully laid out, with trees, shrubs and plants from many parts of Asia. From various points in the gardens there are fine views of Lake Bratan and the surrounding hills.

The Gedong Arca Purbakala Archaeological Museum is located close to Bedulu, on the road to Pejeng. It contains a unique collection of tufa sarcophagi of varying size dating back to 300 BC. They 53 sarcophagi were found in the early seventies on 37 different sites on Bali and brought together here. Some of them are damaged probably the work of tomb-robbers or careless excavators.

Goa Gajah meaning “Elephant Cave” in Indonesian is a famous tourist attraction near Bedulu. It is believed to be built during the Pejeng Royal era (early 11th century). This T-shape cave was a unique place of worship revered both by Buddhist monks and Hindus. The cave was rediscovered in 1923, and the bathing-place in front of it was excavated in 1954. The sacred bathing-place is decorated with reliefs of goddess Wijadari.

The bat cave sanctuary of Goa Lawah is one of the six royal temples on Bali. The cave of Goa Lawah is considered by local people to be the hiding place of one of the two snakes of the underworld. They also say that there is a secret underground tunnel between the temple of Besakih (the center of the upper world) and Goa Lawah, the center of the underworld.

The name of this place literally means “Mountain of Ancient Poetry.” (Gunung = mountain, Kawi = ancient poetry). From the parking lot to the remains, you climb down about 300 steps stairs, pass rice terraces and a stream, and finally arrive at the remains on the bottom of the valley. Various inscriptions indicate that Anak Wungsu, at one time ruler of much of Bali, was venerated here together with his four wives and four concubines. They committed suttee, the Indian custom of a widow burning herself, either on the funeral pyre of her dead husband or in some other fashion, soon after his death. This suggests that the complex was established in the 11th century, either in Anak's lifetime or soon after his death.

This open-air pavilion was built in 18th century, during the reign of the Klungkung Empire. Originally it was built for the Royal family’s resting place, however it was used as the Supreme Court. The desks and chairs for the trials are still there and the ceiling painting is done in the traditional “Kamasan style.”

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is one of the two major water temples in Bali (the other one is Pura Ulun Danu Batur). Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association. Pura Bratan was built by the King of Mengwi in 1633 on the west side of Lake Bratan, on a small island near the village of Candi Kuning.

Besakih Temple is one of the six royal temples on Bali, it is the biggest and the most important temple in Bali. It is thought to have originally been founded in the 8th century AD, possibly as a Buddhist shrine, since at that time Bali had not yet been converted to Hinduism.

The name of Pura Taman Ayun means "Garden Temple in the Water". It belongs to one of the six royal temples on Bali, thus it is one of the most important temples on the island. The imposing complex stands on an island in a river and consists of two courts and a walled inner temple that is closed to non-Hindus.

Tanah Lot is a rock formation and a pilgrimage temple that is very popular among tourists due to its unforgettable setting. The name of Pura Tanah Lot means „land in the sea”.

Rock face below the temple was extensively reconstructed in the 1980’s when it began to crumble. It was the Japanese government that provided a loan to the Indonesia government to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali.

Puri Saren Ubud (Ubud Palace) is a palace built in beautiful Balinese traditional style, once a residence of the king of Ubud. The palace was founded by Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, ruler of the region between 1800 and 1823. It is set behind the traditional art market where you can experience local crafts.

Yeh Pulu is a small hermitage dating back to the 14th century. Although being very close to the famous Goa Gajah, this site receives only a few tourists. A short walk from the ticket office through rice-fields leads to a unique frieze carved into a cliff face. It is of two metres high and twenty-five metres in length. The relief depicts everyday life in Bali with various figures walking, playing with animals and hunting scenes. Compared to other Balinese carvings, figures of Yeh Pulu frieze are much more natural and vivid.